By John Mugendi
As the clock ticks towards next year’s General Elections, Tharaka Nithi County gubernatorial aspirant and the Chuka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Erastus Njoka continues to gain ground.
With his great and admirable performance record as the vice-chancellor and the numerous corporate social responsibility projects he has been doing, the don is now a threat to the political career of the incumbent, Governor Muthomi Njuki who is seeking a second chance.
Governor Njuki and his team are burning the midnight oil planning how to slow Prof Njoka whose focus clearly seems on the ballot paper.
On Sunday morning, Njuki and Maara Member of Parliament Kareke Mbiuki held a dawn meeting at the legislator’s home with a delegation of over 1000 locals in a bid to overturn the gains that Prof Njoka got at the opening ceremony of Chuka University Chogoria campus on Friday.
Sources from the meeting said the county boss insisted that the campus was a University Council’s project and that the VC should not bag any political mileage out of it.
During the official opening ceremony of the campus that was attended by leaders from across the region, Prof Njoka was welcomed at the venue by jubilant locals who vowed to elect him governor because of his great work in the academic sector.
Leaders; MP Mbiuki, former Tharaka Nithi Governor Mbae Ragwa, Maara MP aspirant Kaburu Bongo, Chogoria MCA Margaret Gitari and Tharaka University College principal, Prof Peter Muriungi showered Prof Njoka with praises describing him as a hero and savior of the county.
MP Mbiuki who is a close ally of Governor Njuki said the development record that the VC had recorded in the region was amazing and wished him well in his political aspirations.
“Let Professor continue convincing residents of Tharaka Nithi County through good deeds and I am sure they will consider his next year’s political aspirations,” said Mr Mbiuki.
For a long time, according to Mr Ragwa, residents of Maara constituency had been isolated in development matters brought by Prof Njoka but with the Chogoria campus, the residents would finally benefit.
Newly opened Chuka University Chogoria Campus. PHOTO/PRESS POINT
Prof Muriungi said Prof Njoka was the only person who could save the residents from the chains of poverty.
Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders Tharaka Nithi County chapter chairman, Kangori M’Thaara faulted Tharaka Nithi Senator Prof Kithure Kindiki for claiming that he participated in lobbying for the establishment of Tharaka University College.
He said the lobbying was done by Njuri Ncheke and Ameru Professionals’ Association led by Prof Jacob Kaimenyi and Prof Njoka.
In his speech, the VC promised to end the perennial food shortage by starting irrigation projects if elected.
He said the politicians had intentionally made the people poor so that they can remain their slaves.
Others who have expressed interest in the governorship are; Prof Kindiki, National Museums of Kenya Director General Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia and Machakos County Assembly clerk Mr Gitari Mbiuki.
Governor Njuki, Prof Njoka and Mr Mbiuki come from Chuka/Igambang’ombe constituency while Prof Kindiki and Dr Kibunjia are from Tharaka constituency.
No one from Maara constituency has so far expressed interest in the county chief’s position but the county’s founding governor, Mr Samuel Ragwa is vying for the senatorial seat that has so far attracted six contenders with the newest entrant being Mr Paul Mugambi, a youth leader from Tharaka.
